SO HOW DO WE MAKE IT WORK? I want the clarinet in the band! I want to be inclusive of any musician who’ s committed, teachable, and shares the team’ s heart for worship— but not at the expense of the overall sound or congregational participation.
Here’ s what I’ ve found works best:
Everyone serves the same goal. Every team member, including orchestral players, must see themselves as servants— not performers. We don’ t play just to“ use” our instruments. We play to support the voice of the congregation.
Less is more. No instrument, especially an orchestral one, should play constantly. Give the congregation space to miss the clarinet’ s sound. Long breaks— even entire songs— may be best. When they’ re not playing, they can still sing( mic or no mic).
Use it as a feature. Playing the melody all the time isn’ t helpful. Instead, bring the clarinet in at key moments— doubling the melody or adding harmony at a dynamic high point.
Have them play the hooks. Many popular worship songs have instrumental motifs— think This Is Amazing Grace, King of Kings, or I Speak Jesus. These are perfect spots for a clarinet or violin to shine: in the intro, between sections, or setting up a bridge.
Encourage self-arranging. I can’ t fully orchestrate parts for everyone. I need players to grow as self-arrangers. If the orchestral instrumentalist can’ t reproduce the original artist’ s melodic motifs / hooks yet, I might paste a short piece of notation onto my chart for their reference. I’ ll include an example or two from my chord chart with this article.
Add texture, not clutter. The orchestral instrument can also contribute simple, sustained notes that follow the chords— especially in big moments like a final chorus. Helping notation readers learn chord-based thinking is a valuable skill.
THE PAYOFF When we take the time to guide and equip these musicians, the results can be beautiful. The blend of timbres adds richness to the sound— but more importantly, it reflects something spiritual.
When we thoughtfully include every willing musician— even those with“ unusual” instruments— we reflect the beauty of Christ’ s body: many different parts working together in harmony for one purpose. That’ s true worship.
Grant Norsworthy Grant is the founder of More Than Music Mentor- providing online & onsite training for the heart & the art of worshipping singers, instrumentalists & technicians. Grant’ a passion is to IMPROVE musicality, INCREASE participation, INSTILL unity & INSPIRE worship in The Church worldwide. An Aussie who also lived in Nashville, TN, USA for 17 years as a pro CCM muso, today Grant lives and works from his Nelson New Zealand home base.
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